A QUEENSLAND judge has labelled a serial offender a "grub", a "clown", an "idiot" and a "boofhead" in scathing sentencing remarks.

But Judge Brian Harrison then released Michael Tewa Tawhi Tamou on parole, saying nothing would be gained from locking him up.

The transcript of his sentencing remarks is doing the rounds of members of the state's legal community. It is labelled: "How to impose sentence properly - by Harrison DCJ".

What do you think of the sentencing remarks? Tell us below

The decision was handed down in the District Court in Innisfail on November 27 last year.

Judge Harrison re-sentenced Tamou, 31, to three months' jail with immediate parole for ignoring his community service order for common assault and threatening two people with a tomahawk.

Before beginning his extraordinary tongue-lashing, Judge Harrison pointed out that within a month of being shown leniency by another judge, Tamou had gone on a "rampage", including stealing and assaulting police.

"I think you heard me refer to you before as a clown or an idiot. Well you are," Judge Harrison said. "It's people like you who wreck it for everyone.

"Time and time again we hear how people are dissatisfied about the sentences that the courts impose and how the push is on for tougher and tougher sentences.

"And it's because of grubs like you - and I use that word advisedly - grubs like you, that we're hearing that."

Judge Harrison said if he could bet on Tamou re-offending, he would become a rich man: "You will be back. If I was sure who was going to win the Melbourne Cup next year as I was about you re-offending, I would make a fortune.

"Because you've got no respect, have you, for this system?

"You do your block and you go hurt people. You go and assault people, you go and steal things because you don't care.

"But you can't just go ahead, lose the temper, put your brain into neutral, if you have got one - and I seriously question that - and then just go and do what you like.

"A month after you were sentenced in this court, you were off stealing.

"What a goose."

Judge Harrison said the best place for Tamou was not "bludging off the Queensland taxpayer in jail, costing us a fortune".

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Comments on this story

Fed Up of Gold Coast Posted at 8:40 AM February 19, 2013

So he got a tongue lashing, the judge vented his spleen, and now we have to put up with the stealing. assaults, threats once again. It's either pay to have him locked up or pay to have Legal Aid and the "Justice system" deal with him yet again. Taxpayer money in the pocket of the legal fraternity or locked away to protect the taxpayer. Isn't the judge smart enough to see that? It appears that the judge's indignation is more about the contempt shown for the court rather than the fact that he's positive that another taxpayer will be assaulted ("out will come the fist"). Got to wonder just what the judge was thinking.

Terence of QLD Posted at 8:33 AM February 19, 2013

Bludging off the QLD taxpayer in jail just about says it all! Someone who goes out and kills someone gets to bludge off the system by sitting in jail and the rest of us get a lifetime of suffering out of jail.
Bring back corporal punishment and put an end this torture of the inocent that is the Australian legal system!

StopTheBS of Brisbane Posted at 8:33 AM February 19, 2013

No doubt this will offend various do-gooders in society who will bang on about how this individual's self esteem will be damaged or some similar claptrap. The fact of the matter is that there are grubs in our society and it is about time that they were called for what they are. If the do-gooders have any decency they will elect to assist this sad person by taking responsibility for him, and suffering the consequences. Otherwise shut up.
I say "Hats off to Harrison", promote him ASAP.

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